The Long Road

I think these are the same guy....

NOTE- Not updated in awhile- I am getting to it!

Oh my. 31 years of racing bikes. It has been a long, great, nasty, super, awful, fun, depressing, exhilarating, long ass ride. Every possible high and low I think I hit at one time or another. So many miles not only racing, how about in the car? Probably more miles in the car than on the bike. I spent the first 10 years or so racing in and around Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Utah. The second half has been spent racing in New England. Quite different experiences. The west featured almost exclusively stage races, NE features(although this is changing a bit)single day races. The Stage Races helped forged most of my riding style, as well as training and recovery theories. Lay on the bed at Motel 6 enough Saturday nights wondering how the hell you are going to race two more stages the next day, after getting hammered for 80 or so miles in the wind and heat, and you will figure out a way to maximize recovery. Likewise, I learned to be a GC rider, learned to TT because you were TT'ing just about every weekend. I have more memories than I have hard drive space for. Bits and pieces, bits and pieces. I can actually remember some things with such clarity it is as though it happened yesterday, and then I can look at a race result from 1990-whatever and not even remember being there. You have heard of the 'fog of war'? I have the fog of bike racing. Great wins, shattering losses(at the time it seemed, it retrospect, not so bad)and the best friends I will ever have in my life. Band of brothers? Indeed. I have my own Band of Brothers forged in the 'war' of training, travelling and racing. And you know what? I would not trade a minute of it.

1986-Sorenson watches his first bicycle race, a criterium in the fledgling(one stage at this point)Casper Classic, in Casper, Wyoming. He thinks "this is cool, and it doesn't look too hard"....Oh haha. Soon after, he purchases his first racing bike, a Centurion Ironman for the outrageous(seemingly)sum of $287.00. Feeling nearly naked trying on his first pair of(baby blue Campagnolo!!!!)bike shorts, he asks the salesman "so what do you wear under these?" Ahh..nothing?  " I remember taking the new bike out for my first ride. In a howling wind, just like most days in Wyoming, I got on and it seemed so light I thought I would go like a rocket. I rode 7 miles and found out no matter how light and shiny the bike is, you still have to pedal. And huff and puff. Been huffing and puffing ever since".



1987-With nearly 200!!! training miles in his legs, Sorenson participates in his first race, the 30 minute Casper Classic citizens criterium. He thunders away from the line and wins solo. He has no idea that the vortex of winning bike races has sucked him in, starting a wild ride that is still going. 



1988-Sorenson moves to North Carolina, licenses as a Cat 4. Trains solo every other day, riding hard for 1 hour. He weighs 175 lbs. Enters the Wellspring Classic Criterium in Durham, NC. The first 5 laps motor along at 30mph. Sorenson is used to riding 22 mph. Goes from front, to back, to dropped, to lapped. Decides that is not happening again, rethinks training.

 Wellspring Crit 1989-175 lbs!

1989-Begins racing more than once a year. Enters and wins a Greenville, South Carolina road race, outsprinting his breakaway companion for his first licensed win. Very excited, waves arms about and makes loud shrieking noises that some Cat 4's do when they win, and later realizes how stupid that looks. Wins 3 races this year.


Cycling Career Flashpoint- "In the spring of 1989 I met a rider named Gerry Corcoran. He was a 4-time Junior National champion of Ireland. During a rain soaked circuit race on the campus of the University of Georgia(Cat 4), with 2 laps to go, the front group was composed of about 20 battered, dirty, and soaked riders. I was sitting on the back, very happy to have survived the myriad of crashes and attacks to make the front group. Gerry is watching the race. He sees us coming, cups his hands, looks at me and says "GO Rick, GO!". I thought he was nuts. I was hammered. But, somehow I went. And I soloed to the win. Gerry taught me how to take chances, made me believe in myself and taught me how to win".



1990-Participates in a training series of criteriums in Atlanta, Georgia. Field is Mens Open. Several Olympic track riders as well as host of 1's and 2's participate. Sorenson decides to unleash his 'death sprint' from 30th, finishes 27th.  Decides Cat 4 death sprint does not mean jack against these guys. Returns to Wyoming to race the now 5-stage Casper Classic, taking leaders jersey after 2 stages(Cat 4). Loses jersey and 4:44 on mountain stage, finishes 24th overall. This fat boy realizes he needs to lose weight to be a stage racer. Wins 6 races this year.

En route to losing 4:44 on Casper Mtn.

Cycling Career Flashpoint-"I started training with a rider named Chuck Mangus. He introduced me to a fairly flat circuit we used to do intervals on. The loop took about 2 minutes to get around. He would pull a lap, then I would pull a lap. I could not believe how hard Chuck rode those intervals. It was contagious, and we beat the crap out of each other, round and round. Prior to this, I had only raced hard, not really trained hard. I learned I needed to REALLY mirror my training from my racing. Chuck taught me how to train hard, really hard. Later on he suffered a horrific crash which shattered his collarbone. Due to the pressures of real life, he retired from racing. I went on to become a national champion, he quit. But he was every bit my equal. What a fabulous rider and friend he was". 



1991-Upgrades to Cat 3(finally). Participates in now 7-stage Casper Classic(Cat 3). Laying fifth overall, blunders on flat stage, gets caught out in crosswind(Race in the west for awhile, you will learn how to ride in the wind), loses 6 minutes to leaders. Never forgets lesson of the gutter and the crosswind. Wins 12 races this year. Becomes the first Wyoming rider to ever win a stage of the Casper Classic, the Stage 5 Poisen Spider Road race. "Some guy from Oklahoma attacked at the 1KM sign and I jumped after him. He had me by about 30 meters for what seemed like forever, I finally caught him at 100 meters to go and won. Surreal to win a stage of, at that time, the biggest amateur stage race in the country". 




1992-Early in year, wins a stunning 13 races in a row. Races Cat 3 Casper Classic 135 man field including teenagers Dylan Casey and Levi Leipheimer. On the Casper Mountain stage, rides away from Leipheimer to finish second. On stage 5 mountain TT, Casey is his 30 second man, Sorenson catches future Postal rider in last mile, later overhears Casey telling teammates he was caught by "great climber"(I wish).  In stage 6 crit, rain begins to fall, Sorenson moves to top five to insure safety. Lead rider crashes in turn, Sorenson nukes hay bales, acquires first of many scars, loses 1:14 on the stage, finishes 5th in GC. Wins a staggering 28 races this year.

Rick and his Mom, Sharon

1993-Now 38 years old, upgrades to Cat 2, rides mixture of Pro 1,2 and Masters races. For the next 2 seasons wins every Masters race entered. Races High Uintas Stage race in Evanston, Wyoming, the first time in Pro, 1,2 field. Marty Jemison, wearing jersey of National Road Champion lines up in front of him. Sorenson wonders "what am I doing here". On the stage 2 uphill TT, Sorenson finshes 27th, decides perhaps 165 lbs is not optimal climbing weight. During RR on the famous Morgul-Bismarck course in Boulder, Colorado, learns Pro 1,2's race down the hills as well. This forces rethinking of 'work on the uphill, rest on the downhill' Cat 4 strategy. Wages epic duel with Bud Cribar of Colorado for 7 days in the Casper Classic, eventually finishing 2nd overall(Masters 35+) to Cribar. During wind blasted Shirley Basin RR, Sorenson is instructed by USCF official to be a 'sportsman' and let other riders draft while trying to shred field in a crosswind. Instruction is so incredibly stupid, Sorenson for once does not know what to say. Wins 11 races this year. Rick's mother Sharon, who never really understood what drove her son to pursue the difficult all-encompassing sport of bike racing, but stood solidly behind him and was his biggest fan nonetheless, passes away from lung cancer.

The biggest win to date, the Fremont Canyon Road Race-Casper Classic 1994

 1994-During Stage 2 of the Casper Classic, the brutal Fremont Canyon road race, Sorenson begins a career style of aggressive solo moves, unexpectedly attacking a mere 5 miles into the stage. " "In retrospect it was a bonehead move I would not make today. The thing I had going for me was the circuit did not lend itself to chasing, it was so up and down and I was out of sight. I got a huge gap and then just held on for the last 10 miles while I crawled to the finish." Multiple Master's National Champion Glen Winkle bridges, then is dropped. Sorenson wins solo by 5 minutes and assumes race lead, and holds on through the next 5 stages to become the first Wyoming rider ever to win an overall title in the Casper Classic. This win makes Rick think just maybe he could be a player on the National Masters level. Wins Masters Western Regional Championships. Begins the quest for the stars and stripes jersey at Masters Nationals in St. Louis. Posts fastest split at the turn of the 40KM TT, then blows spectacularly and finishes 14th. Road Race(14th, Men 40+)is the first of several Nationals events Rick races on non-selective courses, beginning a pattern of frustration. Upgrades to Category 1, first rider in the history of the state of Wyoming to do so. Wins 21 races this year. Rick's breakthrough win 
in Casper is one year too late for his mom to see. 


Cycling Career Flashpoint: In our never ending pursuit of recovery methods, one day my great friend and teammate Craig Catellier mentions his Uncle, who was a diabetic, wore TEDS, or support hose to help increase blood flow in his legs. We reasoned why would that not work for our tired ass legs as well? So, we bought some TEDS, and in secret, wore them after races and slept with them on. We made sure no one saw us, and it was hard to convince fellow riders to try them, because, well, they looked like panty hose, you know. I believed in them and have worn TEDS or compression calf sleeves ever since. I was convinced at the time(mid 90's)we were the ONLY athletes wearing compression hose. probably not, but it sure seemed like it. Now, compression items are the rage. I think Craig and I should get some sort of patent rights. We were the trailblazers! No more wearing them in secret, at any rate...

In the leaders Jersey on the way to winning the Casper Classic. 

1995-Returns to stars and stripes chase in Augusta Georgia. Medals for the first time, finishing 3rd in the TT. Wins first Pro 1, 2 race, individual TT at the High Uintas Stage Race(Evanston Wyo, overall 4th, Pro1,2). During road race in St. George, Utah(Tour of St. George Pro 1,2)Sorenson engineers early escape and finds himself in the final miles alone with Pro Burke Swindlehurst and  teenager David Zabriske. Sorenson tells them to leave "the old man alone"(The first time Sorenson plays the 'old man card"). They laugh and attack him anyway. Sorenson chases attack after attack, hangs with them and settles for third. Enters stage race in Colorado Springs, Colorado that balloons into a Pro World Championship tune-up. The field of 130 includes Banesto, with Miguel Indurain, Lance Armstrong and just about every good pro the US has produced in the last few years."Vaughters, McRae, Jiminez, Julich, Kiefel, you name them, they were all there. It was rather daunting to say the least, but hey, I always wanted to ride against the really big boys and this was my chance." Sorenson rode brilliantly, finishing 31st overall and was the 11th placed amateur. "It was one of those 'once in a career' experiences, to say the least". Wins 14 races this year.

Colorado Springs 1995 Garden of the Gods circuit race. The Air Force Academy RR(Stage 2)was the longest race Rick ever entered. 120 miles. 

1996-Continues jersey chase in Nashville Tennessee. Nearly gets it, finishes 4th in rain soaked epic road race. Winkle wins. Afterwards, a teammate suggests Sorenson hold up one of stars and stripes jerseys stacked on tables before awards to see how it looks on. Sorenson declines, explains he will not touch one until it is his to wear. Solos 2 hours and 30 minutes in snow squalls to win Stage 3 of the Platte Bridge Station Stage Race(Pro 1,2) in Casper. Enters the mother of all hillclimbs, the Mt. Evans road race)Master 35+) in Colorado which finishes at 14,000 feet. Sorenson and breakaway partner Steve Crowley(Sorenson wins but is bumped to second after Crowley protested he was impeded in the final meters by a motorcycle)become first Masters riders in history to break 2 hour mark.(This record was broken by Michael Carter in 2000). Weighs 155 lbs. Wins 7 races this year.

1997-Pursuit of stars and stripes continues in Santa Rosa California. Partners with Winkle in early 2-up breakaway, but both are caught with a couple miles to go after being off the front nearly the entire race. Medals in TT, finishing 4th. Rips off epic 82 mile solo breakaway at Pro 1, 2 road race in Bismarck, ND. "I attacked because I was the race leader and my teammate was in third. The plan was to draw out the number two guy and his teammates, make them chase then my teammate would attack. Turned out number 2 chased for awhile then gave up and rode to protect his second place. I just kept going and going. It ended up being a 3 hour 20 minute solo TT effort. Craziest win". Final gap is an astonishing 31 minutes over the field. Wins 12 races this year.

1998-As time begins to erode Pro 1,2 skills, Sorenson begins to concentrate exclusively on Master's races. Wins 6 races this year.


 1999-Unbelievable sojourn to Masters Nationals in Fort Smith Arkansas. Wins the title, finally, in the 40KM TT(Master 40-44)on a sweltering(92 degree's, 95% humidity) Tuesday morning. After receiving Jersey and medal and telling everyone back home he finally did it, results are revised Tuesday night and now Rick finishes 2nd. He returns the jersey he chased for so long and prepares for the road race the next day. "It was so awful, but I was not going to bitch and moan about it, I learned a long time ago if you are going to be a high-profile rider you need to have some class. So I gave it back and went about my business, but I was crushed, obviously." The next morning saw Rick's old nemesis, Glen Winkle, at the start line, looking fresh(due to the heat, most of the riders in the RR had not done the TT). Sorenson attacked on the first hill, he had decided to make it as hard as possible and just let the chips fall where they may. He finally got away solo after about 20 miles. Unbelievably, his old foe from years ago in the Casper Classic, Bud Cribar, bridged up to him. "I had not seen Bud in years, and all the sudden there he was saying "let's GO!". So we did". The field behind disintegrated in the heat, and, in a storybook ending to a bizarre 2 days, Sorenson rolled across the line ahead of Cribar to finally claim his Jersey. Wins 5 races this year.
Postscript- The TT change was made because the officials had mistakenly let a rider ride earlier in the day as he was also doing the tandem TT the same day. His time was initially not included in the results, hence Rick was the winner. When his time was added in later, after the awards presentations, it proved to be the winning time and the results were changed. This was not correct procedure, to let a rider ride at a different time from his actual event, but it was done nonetheless. 10 years later, after harboring some frustration with the whole deal, Sorenson contacts USA cycling Tech Director Sean Farrell and explains what happened and asks what can be done. Farrell agrees with Rick that it was a botched deal and almost declares co-winners, which would make Rick a two-time national champion. In the end however, he decides too much time has passed, he has no way of knowing who the officials involved were and, while agreeing the results should not have been changed, opts to let the revised results stand. he does send Rick a Silver Medal which was not awarded at the time.

Finally got it

2000-With just 300 meters to go after almost 4 hours completed during an 82 mile road race in Evanston Wyoming, racing in the stars and stripes jersey, Sorenson bolts to a sure win out of a 6-man lead group. At 35 mph in a full rush to the line, his right pedal disengages. In a horrific slow motion ballet, he is pitched forward, both feet now out of the pedals, wildly trying to regain control and balance. The struggle fails and he vaults skyward, crashing and skidding heavily. The end result is several broken bones, and the summer race schedule gutted. Sorenson comes back to win the Platte Bridge Station Stage race in August. Wins 3 races this year.

2001- Major life changes including a new wife, and a move to Rutland Vermont curtail race schedule. Wins Bow, NH Master RR in another solo move, off the front for nearly 40 miles for the only win of the year. Decides to try and help other riders, by sharing some of the lessons learned over the years. Learns webdesign, creates Palmares Coaching. Wins 3 races this year.


2002-Limited race schedule sees Sorenson repeat Bow RR win(Master 45+),initially in a two man break that turns into another solo effort. Sorenson laments the demise of the Killington stage race. " I move here and a race I wanted to do for years when I lived in Wyoming goes away.. Figures..." Wins 1 race this year.


2003-Sorenson heads back out west to race again at one of his favorite events, the High Uintas Classic stage race held in Evanston, Wyoming. This classic but difficult race features an 80 mile point to point road race that never fails to test the riders. This year was no exception. The riders started in 50 plus degrees and overcast, but the weather turning apocalyptically bad halfway up the big climb(11,000 foot summit). Rain, then hail, then sleet all accompanied by dropping temps caused nearly half the riders in all fields to DNF. Sorenson, ever the dedicated (boneheaded)rider, keeps going but stops for more clothes, forfeiting his place in a 6 man lead break in the 45 plus race. "I have never been so cold, I don't think" he says, " I could not feel my fingers, my toes, my legs felt like two slabs of hard plastic, it was so hard, I am not sure how I even finished". But he did, albeit out of the GC hopes, losing some 13 minutes to the emergency pit stop. The next day he batters the field during the stage 3 crit and wins in a 2-up sprint. Back in VT later in the summer, going for the 3-peat at Bow(Master 45+) a well set up sprint against his 2 breakaway companions goes for naught as a balky chain slips and slides during the finale. He settles for a disappointing second place. Scores another win in the Lake Sunapee road race(Master 45+) in a two man break. Finishes the season with a fine win in Stage 3 of the Green Mountain Stage Race(Master 40+), bolting from the field with 2 to go and holding on for the win. Wins 4 races this year.

2004- Concentrating on a new business venture, Palmares Event Photo, Sorenson endures a difficult season filled with training breaks and sickness. The old man of racing races one time, finishing a respectable fifth(Master 45+ Capitol Region Road Race, 5th)in a driving 2 hour deluge at Albany, NY. "I race one time all year and it has to be epic weather, it figures" says the soaked to the bone rider at the finish. For the first time in many years, no wins added to the 'Palmares'
 


 2005-Rick concentrates on shooting races instead of riding. Misses racing, although watching riders suffer in the rain and heat while sitting in a camp chair sipping a soda ain't so bad.  As a part-timer, he did ride to a sprightly 17th at Albany, 6th at Bow.

Duel with Swan in the Mountains, he won.

2006-In a epic duel up App Gap, Glenn Swan drops Sorenson in the last K.(GMSR Master 50+) Rick finishes 2nd overall. Also 2nd at Balloon fest, 4th at Bow. Goes to Nationals(Seven Springs PA Master 50+), suffers thru a day of bad legs to finish 14th. "This was one of the first times in my career where I prepared right, but on race day did not have the legs. It used to be if I did XXX it always equaled Y. Now, as I have gotten older the consistency has begun to fade, and that is frustrating, but the way it is I suppose".

Bad day at Seven Springs. 

 2007-s. Wins KOM jersey at Green Mountain. Wins Hilltowns, 3rd at Bow. Makes his 7th trip to Nationals, suffers an ignominious day in the road race(Master 50+)to finish 29th. "Pathetic"  Sorenson decides this season will be his last, and, after the GMSR crit, he retires. "I thought next year I could just ride, keep from getting fat and enjoy not HAVING to ride on any particular day. Seemed like a good idea".

Win at Hilltowns

2008-Retirement ends in August, training  and racing resume. "Long story short, I need the structure of racing and training in my life. I have done it so long, I  felt a bit lost without it". One win, GMSR crit.



2009-Early season success's(2nd at Sunapee and Balloon Fest)do not continue as troubling leg fatigue(ie dead pins)entrenches by August. Crux of season is raced on dead legs. Much pondering leads to conclusion advancing age requires advanced recovery methods. "First time in my career I have raced on truly dead legs. Not a pleasant experience. Post season I took almost 6 full weeks off my bike to make sure my legs were recovered. That may not sound like a big deal, but consider in the past I once went 4 years and took a total of 13 days off the bike, you get the picture". No wins.

GMSR Crit 2009

2010-Armed with cautious enthusiasm and new recovery plan, Sorenson races 18 times, scores multiple tops 5's and top 10's but no wins. Finally gets to race the rejuvenated Killington Stage Race, although does not have the form to really get after it, does get third in the circuit race. Also tackles the Tour of the Catskills(Men 50+), riding up the legendary Devils Kitchen climb, 2 miles at 15-20% grade(5th).  Sleeks down to 150 pounds, reasoning loss of power over the years  means loss of mass to compensate is in order. Caps the season in fine fashion with a 3rd place overall and the KOM jersey at GMSR.

Final Podium at 2010 GMSR L to R Kellogg, Buben, Sorenson

The Numbers:
24 years
450+ starts
140 wins
Over 200 Podiums
Raced in 21 states


Primary Race Bikes-
Centurian Ironman
Specialized Allez Carbon
Trek carbon
Merlin Extralight
Hooker Elite(custom, fastest bike I ever owned)
Specialized S-Works(National Championship bike)
Litespeed Vortex
Orbea Orca
Ridley Boreas
Serotta MeiVici


Sum Up- "I have had a great career. If I complained, I'd be a fool.  It certainly has been memorable. I never thought I was so much more talented than the other riders, I just always rode my ass off and took chances. Plus I always tried to train against riders better than me, I was always looking to 'race up' and see how far I could go. Honestly, I have achieved every goal I ever set out for in Bike Racing. The only real downside to all this is, as I would assume most riders who have ridden at a high level would attest to, is that I have spent most of the last 24 years with someone pissed at me because I was off riding. Every day on the bike wears on the nerves of friends, relatives and wives. Probably cost me my first marriage. That part of the sport has been a struggle, I admit. I guess the people left standing  beside you and around you after all these years are the ones that really count. And have the most patience..;)
Rick Sorenson-September 15, 2010